James's worries it turns out had been all for naught. The Duke and Duchess agreed with his decision so fast, it was a bit suspicious. But a victory was a victory, so James just grinned and took it in stride. The whole issue with the protagonist had now been settled.
A sense of joy on this accomplishment had him humming to himself as he moved to return to his room. Already he was planning what novel he'd be reading the rest of the day. Which is why he was so startled, he forgot to get embarrassed, until much later that is.
"Our guest insisted on having a private meeting with you, my lord."
James jumped like a frightened grass hopper. "Gah...where did you come from?"
"I think you didn't just hear my approach over your terrible...I mean breathtaking humming."
James clicked his tongue in irritation. He wracked his memories, and found that it wasn't rare for this particular maid to tease him in this way. What was more unsettling was the way she delivered it in monotone. It was discomfitting. Like the words meant not a thing to her.
"Mary, was it? You and your brother were supposed to report to me about two nights ago."
She paused, though her expression didn't shift at all. Her eyes were hidden by a pair of thick lensed, or maybe just thick glassed spectacles. James had a hard time believing the girl's sight was that impaired.
"Forgive my rudeness, but me and my brother do not wish to be your personal slaves at the academy. We received master Gray's summons, but deemed it a waste of time since we were just going to refuse."
"Is that so?" he turned away and started to head to his room.
"You've given up that fast? I thought you said if it wasn't us then no one else would do."
"And I meant that. Don't think I'd give up that easily."
"But, why us?"
James gave her a knowing smile. Her expression didn't so much as flicker. He rolled his eyes, turned his face to look at the sky, tried to hold back a sigh.
"Its basic strategy. Keep your friends close, and your foes closer."
"So are we friend or foe?"
He winked at her. "You tell me?" And he snapped his door shut.
The three people in the room turned to regard him. The two children casually, the red haired swordsman almost warily. He didn't let the scrutiny faze him. He walked up to the table, and sat facing the man. The two didn't say anything for long moments, just staring at each other.
James spoke first. "Master Hansworth," he nodded. "I've heard a lot about you."
"And I you, you can imagine."
James grinned. "Yeah I'm quite famous. All good things I hope?"
The other man smiled too, but it didn't reach his eyes. The children were looking from one to the other in obvious confusion.
"Ohh, you can imagine, as I said."
James chuckled. "So true...so true. That I can..."
"Crest said we could go and hang out with them if we wanted to. Perhaps its about time we took him up on that," Nino suggested.
Eno looked ready to complain but one look from his sister had him shutting up. They left the room, and the silence only grew heavier as a result.
"She's good at reading a room, like she grew up to lead or something of the sort."
"I can't let you have them!" Hansworth growled.
James blinked at the man, having not expected this. 'So this is why the tension in here was almost palpable. Huh?' Still he didn't think just telling the man he had no illicit intentions for the children would fly. But it was true, so he said it.
"Then why'd you give them your button or whatever. That sounds shifty as hell to me."
"I was just a little concerned is all. You've been missing for what, two months? What if you were in some sort of trouble? But now that you're here, if you'd like to, you could tell them to return the button."
"You expect me to believe James Halden, infamous for... Well a lot of things..."
"So polite," James smiled again.
"...would want to help me? Just for the sake of helping me?"
"I didn't really do it for you. The kids seemed to really respect you, so I had no choice in the matter. My first meeting with the kids didn't go so well, so I guess I kind of felt guilty for how I acted. Hence I tried to help them however I could."
Hansworth only stared at him dubiously. James shrugged, not really caring if the man believed him or not.
"So you've told the Duke of this kidnapping ring you've been tracking? Do you know what they intend to do with all these...? Wait, where is your ice blade?"
Hansworth's brows only rose higher with every word James released, but at the last he stood up. His chair clattering as it fell end over end in the quiet room.
"Frost bite broke. I broke it myself, before I found the kids. Which means there is no way they could have told you about it. Even if they somehow knew I came to the city to track the smuggling ring I was chasing."
James had always wondered what had happened to the sword Hans was famous for even before the story begun, but destroying it himself. Before the story nonetheless.
"Don't worry about how I know what I know. I know lots of things. Things that will just cause a warrior such as yourself unnecessary headaches to know. You are safe now, healed even. Just get the kids home and forget you ever met me, okay. If you want to quit being a swordsman, be my guest."
The man's eyes became hard. 'Oh. my. gods! what now?! He can't be surprised I know he wants to quit.'
"You have no idea what you're talking about! You've never killed a man before. You weren't raised as a slave and told that killing was the only way they'd let you live. The sword is nothing more than a sign of every misery I've suffered since I was born."
James raised his hands in supplication, a bead of sweat starting to well at his brow.
"You're right, I suppose. I don't know what it feels like to kill a man..." 'That is such a lie..' "But I can see it's taken a toll on you. Tell you what, after you're done escorting the kids home, come back to me and I'll make sure you get into the Royal academy and learn any skill you'd like to. How's that sound?"
'That is exactly what he did in the novel. Hopefully that's enough to placate him.'
"No one needs warriors! War is the worst thing the gods invented! If only I had power, true power like yours, maybe I could try to end it."
He looked near tears by the end. James found himself standing, although his mind was a cacophony of noise. True power he'd said. Well James didn't plan to use his stupid natural born position as a noble for anything. At least warriors worked for their own power.
"Hey, who says no one needs warriors? That is the stupidest crap you've spouted today. Who needs nobles then. True, war is a terrible thing. Real terrible. But it has its uses too. For example, how would people get rid of unfair rulers they were forced to serve, dictators who'd never allow them freedom except if they went to war? And hey, you did help these kids, because you're a warrior. Imagine it was me who'd found the kidnappers, would I have been able to save them without your particular talents.
"Sure, warriors kill people all the time. Cause sadness and darkness and gloom. But they can also save, protect. The world needs warriors as surely as it does priests and kings. You want to say you suffered to learn these skills, then embrace them. In my opinion, something you gained through hardship is more precious than something you were just handed. If you're tired of killing, then protect. You have the power to save instead of destroy."
'Perhaps it is even important to have nobles, born leaders, an organised sysyte— Nope. That's never helped anyone.'
Except it had helped the nobles. And not all nobles were inherently bad. Some used their power to do good things. Perhaps there was a lesson for James in there somewhere. He couldn't see it yet though.
"Excuse me," he said, and he left Hansworth in his room.
'Another long day. I thought I'd just handled Jason and I could rest for a while.' His natural instincts were running amok. His body was just not used to this sort of stress. And his mind craved the release of the bottle. He had to settle for sitting in a secluded nook in the library. He sat there alone for hours. He didn't even have lunch. At some point, Crest found him.
The Kon's had had lunch with the family, and they had been invited for dinner. Hansworth was going to be there too. And his father wanted James to be there as well. He had something he wanted him to know.